So this is it. The whole purpose of restarting the blog was to chronicle the time between when I bought the plane tickets for the trip to San Francisco to this moment (and the of course the trip itself).
I swear when I first bought the tickets, everything seemed so far away. I was thinking that maybe I should’ve gone in March just so I wouldn’t have to wait so long. April 9th seemed like WAY too long to wait.
Did the time go fast? It certainly didn’t feel like it when I was going through each day. In a way, it was like the days were going slow but the months went by fast.
I woke up early this morning and packed my suitcase. I was able to get all my stuff, plus an additional side-bag in one suitcase. That way, I only carry one bag on the plane going out there but I can carry two bags on the way back. Also, if I can’t check in early and have to carry the bag around with me to Yerba Buena Park, it’s much easier to carry one bag instead of two bags. And if I buy stuff while I’m out there, I won’t have to stuff it into one bag.
Podcast Frustration
I had paid for and downloaded several Ricky Gervais audio books and podcasts. I mean hours and hours of these things. Only, apparently they won’t play on my mp3 player. I searched the Internet to find a converter for these m4b files but I couldn’t find a free one that would convert files this long. I downloaded a free one to test it and ended up having to spend $20 to buy the full version.
I hated doing it but if I didn’t, all the money I spent on the podcasts would be wasted because it’s not like I’m going to really spend hours in front of my computer listening to Karl Pilkington ponder the mysteries of the world and Ricky Gervais howl with laughter.
So as I’m writing this, I’m converting one of the files and if it works out okay, I’ll convert the other files over night and move them to my player in the morning before I leave.
Hotel Thoughts
I’m interested to see what my hotel, The Mosser, is going to be like. It appears that I have a shared bathroom, which is hard to picture. In their list of amenities, they don’t mention having TVs in the room. This isn’t a big deal. My DVR will tape the double feature of ‘The Office’ on Thursday but it’ll be weird not having a TV.
Of course, with the hours and hours of video and audio podcasts and multiple movies and TV shows I have on my mp3 player, it’s not likely I’ll be bored. I’m also bringing a book, ‘Game of Shadows’ (about BALCO and steroid use in baseball), a magazine (Reader’s Digest) and a journal that my girlfriend gave me so I can keep track of stuff I do out there.
Scary Letter
I got a letter today in the mail and when I opened it, it showed that I owed almost $5,000. I was pretty sure that I didn’t owe anyone that much. I looked further and it turned out that was a collection agency on behalf of my apartment complex and the letter was actually for Mr. McNabb. Apparently there’s trouble in Purple Moon Tattoo Land.
I can’t imagine running up a bill that high. That’s around seven months of not paying rent. No wonder he got evicted.
Final Thoughts
‘Scrubs’ is really bad. Sending the gang down to the beach for a vacation/wedding? It doesn’t get much worse than that. Maybe the producers should watch the first season and try to remember back when it was good.
I’ve learned some things about ‘Lost.’ First, everyone looks really serious. Second, the music lets you know what’s going on and how you should feel about it. And I think people can die but aren’t really dead…or something.
Showing posts with label mcnabb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mcnabb. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
SF Planning, Movies and Snow
Movie Tour or No?
I’m starting to really question whether I can do that movie tour. They run it once a day, starting at 10:30 and it runs for three hours. That’s a huge block of time. There are two extended stop offs on the tour, in front of City Hall, which was close to being kicked off my list and Fort Point, which would be very convenient for me since I’m not sure I can fit that in otherwise.
But is it worth giving up three hours for those two locations when a lot of the other locations are going to be redundant. I was looking at a list of movies shot in San Francisco and some of them are notable but I’m not sure I really NEED to see what scenes were shot where.
Some of the movies (and I don’t know how many of these will be on the tour) are ‘Milk,’ ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ ‘Vertigo,’ ‘Zodiac,’ ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ ‘Bullitt,’ ‘Basic Instinct,’ ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ and of course the Dirty Harry movies and several movies that are set in Alcatraz (though I doubt the bus tour drives on the water to the Rock).
I don’t think those movies really warrant a three hour tour necessarily. I don’t know. If I had more time maybe. But right now, that’s the next thing on the list that’s looking kinda doubtful.
‘Mythbusters’ is based out of San Francisco. Do you think I could participate in one of their shows? Hey, do you wanna see a really cool clip from the show?
Here:
Movie Thoughts
My girlfriend and I watched ‘Stalag 17’ and ‘Network’ on Sunday as part of a mini William Holden marathon. We’d watched ‘Sunset Boulevard’ last weekend. And I had a couple thoughts that I always have when I watch these movies.
First, William Holden is a really underrated actor. I mean, he did win an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in ‘Stalag 17’. I memorized his acceptance speech, which isn’t hard since he took the award, said, ‘Thank you,’ and walked away. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in ‘Network.’ But you know how little known he apparently is? You know Suzanne Vega’s song ‘Tom’s Diner?’ If you heard it, you’d remember it. Anyway, the line, “I open up the paper / there's a story of an actor / who died while he was drinking / he was no one I had heard of” is a reference to Holden.
Second, Billy Wilder has to be considered when talking about the best directors ever. Also, he wrote almost all the movies he directed. You can watch a movie he wrote/directed and it has his thumbprint on it.
And finally, ‘Network’ is one of the most forward thinking movies I’ve ever seen. It’s so far ahead of its time, it’s amazing that it made any sense in the 70s.
‘Network’ had five of its actors/actresses nominated for Academy Awards but it lost Best Picture to ‘Rocky.’ I love ‘Rocky’ and likely will watch that next weekend as part of a ‘Rocky’ movie marathon, but I’m not sure ‘Rocky’ should’ve won that one.
You know, if you look at the Best Picture winners by decade, you could make a good case that the 70s had the best Best Picture movies. Among the list: ‘Patton,’ ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Godfather Part II,’ ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Rocky,’ ‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Kramer v Kramer.’
Certainly no decade since can even compete with that list but I don’t think there’s really a decade before that’s as strong as the 70s. Now, when it comes to best movies, I still think you hafta look at the 40s as the benchmark decade but so many of the best movies of that decade, weren’t nominated or didn’t win.
How exactly did the following movies of the 40s not win: ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ ‘The Pride of the Yankees,’ ‘The Magnificent Ambersons,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ and ‘The Big Sleep.’
The Snow Falls
It did snow on Sunday but it was more like the dusting I thought it was going to be. It wasn’t the four inches that some places were predicting. I believe I had that one.
The Hunger Walk was cancelled due to snow. This is the worst thing that’s ever happened. Here’s why: People who were hungry are still gonna be hungry now. These little wusses couldn’t put up with a little snow and now people are hungry. I bet alotta these hungry people are also homeless. So guess what? Not only are they cold but they’re still hungry.
And McNabb Exits
Mr. McNabb officially left today, clearing out the last of his things like his plants and wind chimes. He knocked on my door to borrow some ‘pliers or better yet a [insert some fancy sounding wrench here].’ I gave him the pliers and a few minutes later, he returned them and he said, “I know you’re a Braves’ fan but look at the name on this hat.” He showed me a St. Louis Cardinals hat allegedly signed by Stan Musial.
But you know what really confused me? He was wearing a New England Patriots hat. How weird is that?
Iran Wants an Apology
Iran wants an apology for ‘The Wrestler’ and ‘300.’ Is this how it works now? We can start demanding apologies for movies that have been made? Hey, Adam Sandler, got a minute?
The real question is why they were asking the apology of Annette Bening. If she was going to be asked to apologize for something, how about ‘The Women’ or ‘What Planet are You From?’
(This might be the time to reiterate my policy on ‘The Women.’ If any person should get me a copy of this film, the thank you present will be ‘Peewee’s Big Adventure.’ That’s the way it works.)
Salman on Slumdog
I found someone else who doesn’t like ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ Salman Rushdie. I’m not much of a fan of his. Of course, I’m sure he doesn’t care. Once you have a global death threat made against you, criticism like ‘I’m not much of a fan’ probably bounces right off you.
I’m starting to really question whether I can do that movie tour. They run it once a day, starting at 10:30 and it runs for three hours. That’s a huge block of time. There are two extended stop offs on the tour, in front of City Hall, which was close to being kicked off my list and Fort Point, which would be very convenient for me since I’m not sure I can fit that in otherwise.
But is it worth giving up three hours for those two locations when a lot of the other locations are going to be redundant. I was looking at a list of movies shot in San Francisco and some of them are notable but I’m not sure I really NEED to see what scenes were shot where.
Some of the movies (and I don’t know how many of these will be on the tour) are ‘Milk,’ ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ ‘Vertigo,’ ‘Zodiac,’ ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ ‘Bullitt,’ ‘Basic Instinct,’ ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ and of course the Dirty Harry movies and several movies that are set in Alcatraz (though I doubt the bus tour drives on the water to the Rock).
I don’t think those movies really warrant a three hour tour necessarily. I don’t know. If I had more time maybe. But right now, that’s the next thing on the list that’s looking kinda doubtful.
‘Mythbusters’ is based out of San Francisco. Do you think I could participate in one of their shows? Hey, do you wanna see a really cool clip from the show?
Here:
Movie Thoughts
My girlfriend and I watched ‘Stalag 17’ and ‘Network’ on Sunday as part of a mini William Holden marathon. We’d watched ‘Sunset Boulevard’ last weekend. And I had a couple thoughts that I always have when I watch these movies.
First, William Holden is a really underrated actor. I mean, he did win an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in ‘Stalag 17’. I memorized his acceptance speech, which isn’t hard since he took the award, said, ‘Thank you,’ and walked away. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in ‘Network.’ But you know how little known he apparently is? You know Suzanne Vega’s song ‘Tom’s Diner?’ If you heard it, you’d remember it. Anyway, the line, “I open up the paper / there's a story of an actor / who died while he was drinking / he was no one I had heard of” is a reference to Holden.
Second, Billy Wilder has to be considered when talking about the best directors ever. Also, he wrote almost all the movies he directed. You can watch a movie he wrote/directed and it has his thumbprint on it.
And finally, ‘Network’ is one of the most forward thinking movies I’ve ever seen. It’s so far ahead of its time, it’s amazing that it made any sense in the 70s.
‘Network’ had five of its actors/actresses nominated for Academy Awards but it lost Best Picture to ‘Rocky.’ I love ‘Rocky’ and likely will watch that next weekend as part of a ‘Rocky’ movie marathon, but I’m not sure ‘Rocky’ should’ve won that one.
You know, if you look at the Best Picture winners by decade, you could make a good case that the 70s had the best Best Picture movies. Among the list: ‘Patton,’ ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Godfather Part II,’ ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Rocky,’ ‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Kramer v Kramer.’
Certainly no decade since can even compete with that list but I don’t think there’s really a decade before that’s as strong as the 70s. Now, when it comes to best movies, I still think you hafta look at the 40s as the benchmark decade but so many of the best movies of that decade, weren’t nominated or didn’t win.
How exactly did the following movies of the 40s not win: ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ ‘The Pride of the Yankees,’ ‘The Magnificent Ambersons,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ and ‘The Big Sleep.’
The Snow Falls
It did snow on Sunday but it was more like the dusting I thought it was going to be. It wasn’t the four inches that some places were predicting. I believe I had that one.
The Hunger Walk was cancelled due to snow. This is the worst thing that’s ever happened. Here’s why: People who were hungry are still gonna be hungry now. These little wusses couldn’t put up with a little snow and now people are hungry. I bet alotta these hungry people are also homeless. So guess what? Not only are they cold but they’re still hungry.
And McNabb Exits
Mr. McNabb officially left today, clearing out the last of his things like his plants and wind chimes. He knocked on my door to borrow some ‘pliers or better yet a [insert some fancy sounding wrench here].’ I gave him the pliers and a few minutes later, he returned them and he said, “I know you’re a Braves’ fan but look at the name on this hat.” He showed me a St. Louis Cardinals hat allegedly signed by Stan Musial.
But you know what really confused me? He was wearing a New England Patriots hat. How weird is that?
Iran Wants an Apology
Iran wants an apology for ‘The Wrestler’ and ‘300.’ Is this how it works now? We can start demanding apologies for movies that have been made? Hey, Adam Sandler, got a minute?
The real question is why they were asking the apology of Annette Bening. If she was going to be asked to apologize for something, how about ‘The Women’ or ‘What Planet are You From?’
(This might be the time to reiterate my policy on ‘The Women.’ If any person should get me a copy of this film, the thank you present will be ‘Peewee’s Big Adventure.’ That’s the way it works.)
Salman on Slumdog
I found someone else who doesn’t like ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ Salman Rushdie. I’m not much of a fan of his. Of course, I’m sure he doesn’t care. Once you have a global death threat made against you, criticism like ‘I’m not much of a fan’ probably bounces right off you.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Mr. McNabb Era Ends
It’s official: Mr. McNabb is moving out next door this weekend.
Yesterday, I was hearing a lot of loud noises from across the hall and when I was leaving, Mr. McNabb’s door was wide open and a bunch of people were in there laughing and moving stuff. There was a U-Haul out front and it turns out that Mr. McNabb is leaving the complex.
So, Mr. McNabb, this is for you:
I remember when I first saw you
Your bald head and mustache
How you couldn’t pay your rent
Because you didn’t have the cash
And oh, each court summons
That was taped upon your door
I read them every time
It was just too much to ignore
You were the umpire behind home plate
For a youth league in Mosley Field
It was all fun and games
Until a ball hit your windshield
There was that time I startled you
When I missed a step and fell
Those times you stood at the window
And kept staring at Michelle
You harassed the delivery guy
Who was dropping of my new TV
Kept me from going to work
With stories about AT&T
You walked around half naked
With your purple moon tattoo
Wind blowing those chimes
That annoyed everyone but you
I’m sad to see you go
Because of how much you meant
But at least maybe the complex
Will get someone who’ll pay the rent
Oh, the places you will go, Mr. McNabb…The places you will go.
A Quixotic Quest
I’m still going through the plans with San Francisco and I still don’t see how I can fit everything in. The places that are looking questionable right now: The Legion of Honor art museum, Alta Plaza, Fort Mason, Marina Green, the Haas-Lillenthal House, St. Mary’s Cathedral and City Hall. Of course, the zoo’s already been kicked out.
I can’t figure out how to fit in the tour of AT&T Park and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, the latter has a big Dutch Windmill. I’ve never seen a windmill like that before. But it’s not close to anything and it’s really out of the way. But I hafta to see it, right? I mean, you can’t just ignore a giant windmill. I feel a little like Don Quixote in that I just have to get to that damn windmill!
I would love to tour the city in a sea plane but that’s going to take 2-3 hours out of a day. I hafta go to a meeting place, where I’m driven up over the Golden Gate Bridge to an airport. We’d fly around for a while and I’d hafta be driven back to the meeting place. And what I’m really scared of is that the plane’s windows will be dirty and I won’t be able to get clear pictures. If they came out, I’m sure they’d be great but I don’t have a good track record on shooting from the sky like that.
The movie tour (which takes you around the city looking at where famous movies were shot) is also looking unlikely. I was under the crazy impression originally that I could fit the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, downtown into two days, leaving Sunday wide open to finish up what wasn’t done and to tour AT&T Park. That’s just not possible.
I’m going to spend some time today working on it and a lot of time on Wednesday. The goal still is to get all the plans in place by March 9th, which is next Monday, giving me just about a week to get this completed. That week, I’ll make all the necessary reservations and start putting together a guidebook to take with me, plan what to take and everything.
The Weather Outside is Weather
Supposedly it's going to snow Sunday and WSBTV is reporting that it could be up to 4 inches in the Metro Atlanta area. For those who are worried, please let me assure you...THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.
I concede that there might be snow flurries but it will not accumulate. Period. It's 61 degrees right now. Tomorrow is expected to be in high 30s. The ground is going to be too warm for it to add up to 4 inches in the Metro Area. Maybe up in North Georgia but not down here.
Again, I promise you, it will not accumulate. If we get four inches where I live, I will chop off my right arm.
Brooking Signs with the Cowboys
Former Atlanta Falcon linebacker Keith Brooking signed with the Dallas Cowboys today, which reunites him with Wade Phillips. Phillips was a former defensive coordinator for the Falcons and briefly served as coach after Dan Reeves was fired.
Brooking released a statement to the AJC that said he was sad to be leaving. "The Atlanta area is my home. It will always be my home. Although, I will play for the Cowboys for the next few years, I will always be a Falcon at heart.”
Yesterday, I was hearing a lot of loud noises from across the hall and when I was leaving, Mr. McNabb’s door was wide open and a bunch of people were in there laughing and moving stuff. There was a U-Haul out front and it turns out that Mr. McNabb is leaving the complex.
So, Mr. McNabb, this is for you:
I remember when I first saw you
Your bald head and mustache
How you couldn’t pay your rent
Because you didn’t have the cash
And oh, each court summons
That was taped upon your door
I read them every time
It was just too much to ignore
You were the umpire behind home plate
For a youth league in Mosley Field
It was all fun and games
Until a ball hit your windshield
There was that time I startled you
When I missed a step and fell
Those times you stood at the window
And kept staring at Michelle
You harassed the delivery guy
Who was dropping of my new TV
Kept me from going to work
With stories about AT&T
You walked around half naked
With your purple moon tattoo
Wind blowing those chimes
That annoyed everyone but you
I’m sad to see you go
Because of how much you meant
But at least maybe the complex
Will get someone who’ll pay the rent
Oh, the places you will go, Mr. McNabb…The places you will go.
A Quixotic Quest
I’m still going through the plans with San Francisco and I still don’t see how I can fit everything in. The places that are looking questionable right now: The Legion of Honor art museum, Alta Plaza, Fort Mason, Marina Green, the Haas-Lillenthal House, St. Mary’s Cathedral and City Hall. Of course, the zoo’s already been kicked out.
I can’t figure out how to fit in the tour of AT&T Park and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, the latter has a big Dutch Windmill. I’ve never seen a windmill like that before. But it’s not close to anything and it’s really out of the way. But I hafta to see it, right? I mean, you can’t just ignore a giant windmill. I feel a little like Don Quixote in that I just have to get to that damn windmill!
I would love to tour the city in a sea plane but that’s going to take 2-3 hours out of a day. I hafta go to a meeting place, where I’m driven up over the Golden Gate Bridge to an airport. We’d fly around for a while and I’d hafta be driven back to the meeting place. And what I’m really scared of is that the plane’s windows will be dirty and I won’t be able to get clear pictures. If they came out, I’m sure they’d be great but I don’t have a good track record on shooting from the sky like that.
The movie tour (which takes you around the city looking at where famous movies were shot) is also looking unlikely. I was under the crazy impression originally that I could fit the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, downtown into two days, leaving Sunday wide open to finish up what wasn’t done and to tour AT&T Park. That’s just not possible.
I’m going to spend some time today working on it and a lot of time on Wednesday. The goal still is to get all the plans in place by March 9th, which is next Monday, giving me just about a week to get this completed. That week, I’ll make all the necessary reservations and start putting together a guidebook to take with me, plan what to take and everything.
The Weather Outside is Weather
Supposedly it's going to snow Sunday and WSBTV is reporting that it could be up to 4 inches in the Metro Atlanta area. For those who are worried, please let me assure you...THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.
I concede that there might be snow flurries but it will not accumulate. Period. It's 61 degrees right now. Tomorrow is expected to be in high 30s. The ground is going to be too warm for it to add up to 4 inches in the Metro Area. Maybe up in North Georgia but not down here.
Again, I promise you, it will not accumulate. If we get four inches where I live, I will chop off my right arm.
Brooking Signs with the Cowboys
Former Atlanta Falcon linebacker Keith Brooking signed with the Dallas Cowboys today, which reunites him with Wade Phillips. Phillips was a former defensive coordinator for the Falcons and briefly served as coach after Dan Reeves was fired.
Brooking released a statement to the AJC that said he was sad to be leaving. "The Atlanta area is my home. It will always be my home. Although, I will play for the Cowboys for the next few years, I will always be a Falcon at heart.”
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